Carpet sweeper



Jan. 14, 1941. s. MILLER CARPET SWEEYIPER 7 Filed July 3l', 1956 s sheets-sheen I INVENTOR.

i 9 1. 77421 ATTORNEY.

SQMILLER CARPET SWEEPER .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31321936 s. MILLER 2,228,528

CARPET SWEEPER' I Filed July 31, 1936 3 Sheets-sheaf 5 INVENTOR;

w WM

ATTORNEY. I

Patented Jan. 14,1941

U T D- TA E PATE T; O FIC v CARPET SWEEPER. I Swift, Miller, Milwaukee, Wis assignor .to'E. R: Wagner ManuiacturingsCompan'y, Milwaukee, Wis.,'a corporationot Wisconsin v Application July31,193 i Serial No. 93,549 I iclaims. (01.15-41) This invention relates to an improvement in carpetsweepers. V v One of the objectsof the invention is to provide .an improved stub axle mounting for floor wheels,

that is, a mounting whichenables the casing of the sweeper and consequently'the brush thereof to be moved vertically relative to the floor wheels,

thereby adapting thesweeper to be conveniently and efiectivelyemployed for heavy or light. sweeping, asconditions'may require. This actionis had in a convenient and practical wayand'yet the floor wheels arealwaysmaintained in proper driving relation with the pulleys of the brush.

Furthermore, the actionis-silent and the structure is such that it can be manufactured with facility Another obectof the invention is to -provide improved means for floatably mounting the brush,

thereby allowing the brush a certain freedom of vertical movement and also providing for the ready removal of the brush from the sweeper or its replacement therewith. Upward vertical movement of the brush is opposed by yieldable means such as light springsand the arrangement is such that ordinarily the bristles of the brush touch the top of'the pile of a rug or carpet but .by varying the pressure applied, to the handle the brush is pressed into the'pile to the extent required. In otherwords, the brush is, practically speaking, self adjusting, and the sweeping effect is varied, merely by varying the pressureon the' handle." 7 I v I 1 7 Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts'whichwill be hereinafter more fully described and-particularly pointed out in the'appended claims, reference being bad part of v to the accompanying drawings, forming a this specification, and. in which;

Figure 1 is a view in top plan'showinga sweeper embodying the present invention, a part of'the sweeper casing being broken away and. shown in section for the sake'otilluStrationf I a Figure 2 is a-view showing one type ofistub axle mounting for the floor wheels, the view being in vertical section taken'online 2--2'of Figure 1, parts being broken away and parts being shown in dotted lines for the sake of illustration;

Figure 3 is a fragmentarysectional view taken on line H of Figure 1 and illustrating one type 1 of brush mounting and also the brush 'pulley structure; a I I i v Figure 4 is a sectional viewtaken on linet-l of Figure 3 but illustrating the sweeper on a l nen-2o of Figure 1a; and

. the spring .reduced scale further showing "brush the stub axle mounting;

t Figure 6 isa detail tra t-"sauce area on Figure 7 is a view'in vertical "section taken on line 0t Figure '1 and illustrating ithedust pans and brush combs;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary viewin vertical sec- ,tion taken on line [-8 of Figure 1"andshowing thedetachable connection between thehandleand the socket of the'sweeperball'; V

Figures 9,.and' ,10 are fragmentary fs'ectio'rial 16 views taken on lines 9- -9 and IO HI, respectively,

of Figure r: andishowingfthecomb and dust pan mountings, respectively; I v i Figurell isa fragm'entary view in bottom plan showing theiportion'of'the metal casing of the sweeper in which an oval window is provided; Figure, 12 is a fragmentary sectional 'vie'w taken Figure 13 is 'a fragmentary'view similar" to Figure 2 but showing a; modified form of stub' 'a'xle mounting? i Figure 14 is a' view in side'elevation showing another sweeper structure embodying the present invention'jf, i.

Figure 15 is a view in vertical-section taken on '30 m s r,neur 41,. Figure 16 is afragmentary sectional view taken j on line l6'l,6 ofFigure 14;

Figure 17 is afragmentary view'taken on line Ill-l1 of Figure 15; 3!

Figure 1815 a view: in top plan'of'ithe structure shown in Figure 17;:

Figure 19 is afragment a'r'ysectional view taken Figure 20 15 a detail sectional view taken on '40 1 Figure 21 is a 'view" showing amodified form of structure which acts on the jfloor fwheel's. i

Referring to the 'drawings, I and more particu- 'larlyto Figures 1, 2 and-4, it will-be seenthat the sweeper comprises a casing designated generally.

. at ,C and made up oi! apair of wooden end'plates I 'which are interfltted with notched ends'of side rails 2. A curved metal casing member 3' of sheet metal'is provided'and at its front" and rear isinterfitted with' rabbets' 4' of the side rails 2. The ends of the: shetme'tal casingr'membe'r 3 are flanged as at 5 andthese flangesoverlap the end walls I. Each corner of the metal casing tion shown in Figures 1 to 7 by means of metal end plates Twhich are curved longitudinally and transversely and have inwardly directed flanges 8 on the opposite sides of cut-away portions or slots 9, the flanges abutting the flanges 5 and having lug-like extensions overlapping the side rails 2 and fastened thereto by screws l0. Screws 5' and spacing sleeves 6' also aid in holding the metal end plates in proper position. A rubber bumper ll encircles the sweeper casing and is releasably secured to the sweeper casing in any desired way.

The casing is supported by means of floor wheels I2. Four floor wheels are provided, there being a pair at each end in accordance with the conventional practice. Each floor wheel has a hub l3 which is rotatably supported on a stub axle l4. In the assembly the metal end plates 1 engage the rounded outer ends of the hubs I3 to prevent the floor wheels from being displaced from the ends of the stub axle. There is an individual stub axle for each floor wheel. Each axle is fastened at its inner end to a supporting arm I5. Abracket plate It is secured to each end wall I of the casing by means of screws I1. Each bracket plate l6 fits flush up against its end wall for the major portion of its extent. The bracket plate is centrally cut away in the same manner as the wooden end wall I of the sweeper casing to accommodate the brush and at each side has an outwardly displaced portion I8 which provides a socket 'or guide and also a stop structure for one of the arms l5. More specifically each bracket plate 3 is in the form of an inverted U-shaped stamping with the legs of the stamping strad dling the notches in the end walls of the casing that accommodate the brush ends. The outwardly displaced portions I8 coact with theend walls to provide guides which constrain the arms l5 to vertical swinging and sliding movement. The upper and lower walls of the guides provide stops which limit the swinging movement of the arms. The portion of each arm l5 accommodated in its socket I8 is provided witha longitudinal slot l9 and a pin 20, which is fastened to the casing, extends through each slot l3 and limits the sliding movement of its arms as well as constrains it to pivoted movement. There is thus freedom for the arm to move a limited distance longitudinally and also to swing in a vertical plane. Usually the pins 20 are in the form of screws which not only provide the pin of the pin and slot connection but also aid in fastening the bracket plates to the end walls of the casing. A

fiber washer 20' is mounted on each pin 20 between each supporting arm l5 and the adjacent end wall of 'the socket.

A spring 2| is provided for the two arms at eachend of the sweeper. Each spring has a substantially straight and horizontal intermediate portion 22 which is, however, provided with V- shaped formations 23 which fit and anchor in spring seats 24 pressed out from the bracket plate. Each spring 2| has downwardly andv inwardly inclined end portions 25 which are substantially straight and united with the intermediate portion 22 by integral bends 26. The extremities of the straight and downwardly inclined ends 25 are curved or curled as at 21 and are snugly fitted 'ing or casing in position.

in annular grooves provided on the arms by the outer end portions of the arms and by means of discs 28 fastened to the arms and to the stub axles in such manner as to provide these annular grooves. With springs so constructed there is a light or yielding resistance opposed to vertical movement of the casing relative to the floor wheels and yet the movement of the wheels laterally away from each other is opposed by a stiil' and relatively heavy resistance. In this way the user of the sweeper may, by exerting pressure on its handle, correctly position the brush vertically for the height of the pile of the rug or carpet on which the sweeper is being used and yet the four wheels always have effective driving engagement with the brush pulleys.

When the springs 2! are assembled with their floor wheels and their seats 24, they are stretched somewhat outof their original shape and this brings into play their inherent resiliency whereby they properly bias the floor wheels and also hold the springs engaged with their seats 24. Any tendency of the springs to jump out of their seats is precluded in the assembly by the heads of the screws H, which, when in place, block the entrance to the spring seats.

The shape and structure of the spring 2| may be varied in some respects. Thus, as shown in Figure 2l-the ends may be reversely curled as indicated at 21' from the manner in which they are formed in Figure 2 to enhance their capacity for interlocking engagement with the annular grooves formed in the stub axle structure.

The rotary brush of the sweeper is designated generally at 30 and has shaft-like extensions 3i at its ends on which the brush driving pulleys, designated generally at 32, are secured. Each brush driving pulley 32 comprises an annular wooden body portion 33 suitably fixed to its shaft extension 3| and a metal casing or sheathing 34, the sheathening 34 being made of a single piece of sheet metal and having a portion 35 covering one face of the pulley, a portion 36 covering the periphery of the pulley, and a flange 3'! which is spun or bent down over the other side face of the pulley to secure and hold the metal sheath- In the assembly the pulleys 32 are engaged with the floor Wheels as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 so that as the sweeper is propelled back and forth across the rug or carpet the floor wheels act on the pulleys 32 to rotate the "brush.

In the ends of the shaft extensions 3| bearing sockets 38 are provided. Brush trunnions 39 are interfitted with the sockets 38 and provide the axis about which'thebrush rotates. These trunnions 39 are riveted or otherwise fixed to mounting strips designated generally at 40. In the form of the invention now being described and shown in Figures 1 to 7,the brush mounting strips 40 are supported for vertical sliding movement in guideways provided therefor in the metal end plates 1. These guideways are formed by displacing inwardly a lowerportion of each metal plate I, thus providing an outwardly facing groove 4|. The upper portion of the metal end plates alined with the guide grooves 4| are outwardly displaced to define an inwardly facing guide groove 42. Between the grooves "and 42 the end plates are slotted as at. 43. v

The upper portion of the mounting strips are provided with vertical guide slots II. A headed pin or rivet 45 carried by each metal end plate I coacts with the slot 44 of its mounting strip to aid in constraining the mounting strip to vertical wit has its ends anchored .under lugs 48 struck from the metal end plates and has itsintermediate portion formed with a U-bend 49 and engaged over a headed stud or rivet 50 which is fixed to the adjacent mounting strip. The spring 41 "is tensioned to urge the mounting strips downwardly but may yield to permit the brush to'move upwardly when operating conditions so require.

' Dust pans designated at 5| and 52 areprovided in the casing and are normally urged to closed position by a spring 53 although they may be swung to open position fordumping the contents thereof. The pivotal support for these pans is provided by headed'pivot pins 54 which are pressed or driven into and hence in eifect countersunk in openings providedltherefor in the wooden end walls I of the casing and are maintained in position by the bracket'platev l8 which overlies them. This providesa very simple and effective means for pivotally supporting thev dust pans. Combs 55 and 56 coact with the'brush in the usual manner and dififer in their construction only in their pivotal mounting. As illustrated in Figures 7 and 9, each comb has at each end an integral mounting lug 51. .To this mounting lug a metal pivot pin 58 is riveted as at 59. The portions of thepiris 58 projecting beyond the lugs 51 of the combs are fitted in bearing openings 60 provided therefor in the wooden end walls I. It

hasbeen found that by riveting metal pins to the combs and rotatably fitting them'in holes in, the wooden end walls, the action of thefcombs is improved especially in that they work far more silently than in previous structures. The usual stop pins 6] are provided for the combs. Rubber sleeves 62 on the combs engage these stop pins to further silencethe operationof the combs.

A handle 63 is provided for; the sweeper and is connected to'a socket 64 rigidly secured to a bail 85, The legs of the bail work in the slots 9 and the ends of these legs are inturned as at 88 and are rotatably interfitted with flanged bearings .61 provided in the bracket plates i8.

In order to releasably connect the handle 83 to its socket .84, the lower end of the handle is taperedas at 88- Inthis tapered portion .88 a spiral groove of uniform depth and designated at 89 is closed or cut. he socket 64 which, however, are of cylindrical construction. With this arrangement the handle may be very firmly connected up to its socket and can be tightened up even after the parts have become worn, because of the wedging of the tapered lower end of the wooden handle in the cylindrical socket.

An'oval window H of Celluloidor other suitable transparent flexible material is provided in the metal section or cover 3 of the sweeperc This metal section or cover 8 has an opening formed therein corresponding in outline to the outline of the window. The metal of the cover 3 around the margin of the opening is bent back upon itself as indicated at 13 in Figure 12. Integral withthis bent back portion or flange 13 are clinching lugs 14 which,,in the assembly, are bent around the edges of the window to firmly clamp the same in position and retain it convexed or outwardly buckled.

In Figure 13 there is illustrated a slightly modifled stub axle mounting for the fioor'wheels of the Threads ID are provided on sweeper. The casing is constructed as before and,

as in the other embodiment, a bracket plate 15 corresponding to the bracket plates I8 is fastened to each end wall of'the sweeper casing. In each side of the bracket'a combined guide socket and stop arrangement is provided as indicated at 18.

An arm 1'! has a pin and slot connection 18 with the bracket 15 andthe sweeper wall I. carries the stub axle designated at 19. Pivot'ally This arm connected to the armql'l by means of the stub axle 19" is a link 80. A spring'8l is anchored I as at 82 to the bracket plate and has ateach end a downwardly and outwardly injclined straight portion 83 which has a loop 84 at its ends interengaged with a notch 85 provided in the outer end oft he'link. In the form of r the invention shown in Figures i 4 to l9, inclusive, the manner of supporting the brush and the construction of the metal end plates is varied. The metal end plates are substantially devoid of the inwardly curved flanges corresponding to fianges'8 and 9 but have body portions-86 which parallel the end walls of the case and im turned ends 81 which overlap and are fastened by screws 81' to the "side rails of the wooden case. The body 'portion'88 has its upper section inwardly are sufiicientlyl'ong to allow'the mounting strip the desirable 'v ertical movement. The strips 89 are resilient and may be flexed outwardly to disengage their trunnions 92 from the bearings in the ends of the brush shaft. In order to precludeaccidental disengagement of the reduced ends from the slots 9i at such times, these extensions are preferably hook-shaped, as maybe clearly seen in Figure 17.

A spring "93- is provided for urging the mount ing strip 89 downwardly and against the shoulder 94 provided atthe bottom of its guideway on the body. portion 86 of the end plates. This spring has its intermediate portion anchored to its metal end plate by means of lugs 96, 91 and 98 struck from the metal of the end plate. The ends of the springfextend upwardly as at 99 and are hooked over the reduced extensions of the mounting strip, as indicated at I00. Finger pieces strip to facilitate outward fiex'ion thereof and'also v IOI are provided in the center of each mounting which the trunnions are'attached. The trunnions themselves may be riveted to the mounting strips and the finger pieces llll.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the present invention provides a conveniently operable and efllcient sweeper, one in which the character, of the sweeping action is under the complete control of the operator due to the manner in which the floor wheels are mounted and combined with their spring and with the brush.

The brush mountings provide in effect a vertically floating on self adjustable brush without necessitating the manipulation of any adjustmerits but on the contrary responsive to the pressure applied to the handle. In connection with the responsiveness of the sweeper to pressure exerted on the handle by the operator, it should be noted that the stop structure afforded by the upper walls of the sockets of the bracket plates I6 areengageable with the supporting arm l5 to positively prevent the casing from digging into the carpet. Another point to be observed'in conplaced portions nection with the nature of the springs associated with the stub axles is that although the angle between the horizontal portion 22 of each spring and its downwardly and inwardly inclined end portions 25 may be varied this angle should hardly ever be greater than 45 if it is to have the dual capacity of ready yieldability to vertical pressure and yet force the floor wheels into proper driving engagement with the pulleys of the brush.

While I have shown and described several constructions in which the invention may be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood that these have been selected merely for the sake of illustration or example and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from thelspil'it of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A carpet sweeper of the character described comprising a casing, floor wheels therefor, individual floating stub axles on which the floor wheels are rotatablysupported, individual supporting arms to which the stub axles are secured, means supporting said arms for limited swinging movement ina vertical plane and for sliding movement fore and aft of the sweeper, a rotary brush disposed in said casing and having friction wheels engaged with and driven by said floor wheels, spring means connected with said arms for opposing fore and aft movement thereof with a stiff resistance while presenting a relatively light resistance to vertical swinging movement of the arms, and a handle connected to the sweeper casing.

2. A carpet sweeper of the character described comprising a casinghaving end walls, a bracket plate fastened flush against the outside of each end wall and having a pair of outwardly disproviding guide socketsand stop structures, supporting arms slidably andsw'ingably mounted in each of said sockets and projecting therefrom, the stop structures of said sockets being engageable with the arms to limit the swinging movement thereof, a stub axle carried by the projecting portion of each of said arms, a floor wheel rotatably mounted on each of said stub axles, a rotary brush disposed in the casing and having friction wheels engaged with the floor wheels and frictionally driven thereby, a spring at each end of the sweeper having a substantially horizontal portion fastened to the adjacent bracket plate, each of said springs being reversely bent at its ends and having straight downwardly'iand inwardly inclined end portions connected to the adjacent stub axles, and a handle connected to the sweeper.

3. A carpet sweeper of the character described comprising a casing having end walls, a bracket plate fastened flush against the outside of each end wall and having a pair of outwardly displaced portions providing sockets and stop structures, supporting arms having portions fitted in the guide sockets and portions projecting therefrom, pin and slot connections between the bracket plates and the portions of the supported arms fitted in said guide sockets, a stub axle carried by the projecting portion of each of said supporting arms, floor wheels rotatably mounted on the stub axles, a rotatable brush disposed within the sweeper casing and having friction wheels engaged with said floor wheels and driven thereby, and springs anchored to the bracket plates and connected to the floor wheels and shaped and tensioned to maintain the floor wheels in driving engagement with the friction wheels while presenting relatively light resistance to vertical movement of the floor wheels relative to the casing.

4. A carpet sweeper of the character described comprising a casing having end walls, a bracket plate fastened flush against the outside of each end wall and having a pair of outwardly displaced portions providing guide sockets and stop structures, supporting arms slidably and swingably mounted in each of said sockets and projecting therefrom, the stop structures of said sockets being engageable with the arms to limit the swinging movement thereof, a stub axle carried by the projecting portion of each of said arms, a floor wheel r'otatably mounted on each of said stub axles, a rotary'brush disposed in the casing and having friction wheels engaged with the floor wheels and frlctionally driven thereby, a spring at each end of the sweeper having a substantially horizontal portion fastened to the ad jacent bracket plate, each of said springs being reversely bent at its ends and having straight downwardly and inwardly inclined end portions connected to the adjacent stub axles, and a handle connected to the sweeper, the horizontal portion of said spring having V-shaped formations, said bracket plate having spring seats formed therein in which said V-shaped formations are seated and secured.

SWIF'I' MILLER. 

